Step 2: Booking and What the Fare Includes
Understand what is bundled and what isn’t, and compare cruise quotes like a pro.
Get First-Cruise Quotes FreeStep two is turning a shortlist into a booking. The most useful thing to understand here is that cruise fares bundle some things and leave others out — and the split differs by line. Knowing the difference is how you compare quotes fairly and avoid a surprise at the end of the trip.
What the Cruise Fare Usually Includes
- Your cabin, with daily housekeeping.
- Meals in the main dining room and buffet, plus some casual venues.
- Most entertainment: theater shows, live music, pools, fitness center and many activities.
- Basic drinks such as water, regular coffee and tea, and some juices at breakfast (varies by line).
- Transportation between ports, which is the point of the whole trip.
What Often Costs Extra
| Item | How it usually works |
|---|---|
| Taxes, fees and port expenses | Charged per person on top of the cruise fare on most lines. Make sure any quote you compare includes them. |
| Gratuities | Many mainstream lines add a per-person, per-day service charge to your onboard account. Amounts differ by line and cabin type and change from time to time; check your line’s current policy. Some lines and some fares include gratuities. |
| Drink packages | Optional bundles of alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic drinks, priced per day. Lines usually require every adult in a cabin to buy the same package, and a service charge may be added. |
| Specialty restaurants | Steakhouses, sushi, chef’s tables and similar venues usually carry a cover charge or menu prices. |
| Shore excursions | Tours in port, booked through the line or independently. |
| Wi-Fi, spa, photos, casino | Paid extras on most ships. |
Luxury lines work differently. Lines such as Regent Seven Seas and Silversea include far more in the fare (for example drinks and gratuities, and on some lines excursions). A higher fare can still compare well once extras are counted. Always compare like with like.
Choosing a Cabin
- Inside: no window, lowest price, very dark for sleeping.
- Ocean view: a window or porthole that doesn’t open.
- Balcony: your own outdoor space; especially valued on scenic itineraries such as Alaska.
- Suite: more space and, on many lines, extra perks.
For first-timers worried about motion, a cabin on a lower deck near the middle of the ship tends to feel the least movement.
Booking Steps That Protect You
- Enter every name exactly as it appears on the ID you will travel with.
- Note the final payment date and the cancellation schedule in the line’s terms.
- Consider travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and medical evacuation; read more at Cruise & Travel Insurance.
- Check document requirements for your itinerary now, not the week before. Our sister site has a documents checklist.
- Ask your advisor to list exactly what is included in writing.
Get a Quote That Shows What’s Included
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will send free quotes that spell out taxes, fees and extras, so you can compare honestly.
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